The Champions Ring (Nalu)

Heal First, Fight Later Pt. 2

The door closed leaving me and Erza alone in this dreaded room.

"You feelin' any better?" She asked biting on her straw.

"Well apart from the swollen hand and bruised ribs, I say I'm great."

She chuckled, "you're still that same sarcastic idiot, I see."

"And you're still that same psychotic strawberry lover," I said, pointing at her milkshake. We both laughed. I patted the seat next to me, indicating for her to sit.

She sat next to me staring up at the show on the television, "I didn't know you were into soap operas."

"Well it's all they have on here," I sighed, "and besides, it's not that bad. The plot is actually decent it's just the terrible acting."

"Well what's this one about?" She asked.

Hours later went by and we were still watching the annoying but decent soap opera.

"I'm telling you Erza, John is the father."

"No way! It's Andrew," She said still sipping on her shake.

"No way do you see the way she looks at John everytime she mentions the baby," I scoffed, "you have to be blind in order not to see it."

"I guess we have to keep watching."

"Oh john!" The woman named Victoria said, while weeping into the man's chest.

"So over dramatic," Erza said, stuffing her face with popcorn.

"I have a secret I've been keeping for too long!"

He brushed her hair from her face, "What is it my love?"

"The baby... is yours!"

"Boom! I told you!" I yelled, hurting my chest in the process.

"Fine, I'll give you that one." She glanced at her watch, "I have to go, your mom is probably waiting for me." She hopped out of the bed and grabbed her bag. Before she left the room she ran towards me grabbing me into a soft gentle hug making sure not to hurt me, "I'll see you later ok. Make sure you get some sleep."

I hugged her back, "I promise."

She let go and headed toward the door, "I'll see you in the morning." She closed the door behind her and I was left again in this dark room, alone.

An hour has passed and I still couldn't get any sleep. All I could think about is what happened that night. I clenched my fist remembering his name.

"Kai.." I whispered. I can't believe I let him humiliate me like that. I thought I could take him after all these years. I promised myself if I ever ran into him again that I would return the favor. I can't believe he's still making my life a living hell.

I reached for the one thing that kept me calm only to touch my bare chest. Frightened I glanced down, "dad's scarf! Where is it?" I slowly lifted my head up from my bed and looked everywhere in the room. As I was looking I soon remembered where I left it...

At the club in my locker.

"Crap!" I slammed my fist down on the bed. The one thing I needed right now is gone. I slammed my head back down on the pillow, "I'm sorry dad... for being so irresponsible," I whispered, "I should've taken more care of it." I ran my fingers through my hair, "you're probably disappointed in the way I turned out huh?" I chuckled to myself, of course he's disappointed, who wouldn't be.

I heard a knock on the door and saw a nurse peek her head inside, "Mr. Dragneel, you have a visitor."

I glanced at the clock and saw it was seven thirty, "who would visit me this late?" The nurse stepped aside revealing the mysterious guest. I couldn't say I wasn't suprised when I saw who it was, "Hey, you're that old man who helped me the other night."

He took off his hat, "in the flesh," he smiled.

"You guys have thirty minutes, then visiting time is over." The nurse left the room leaving only us in the room.

"So.." he sat in the chair beside me, placing his hat on his lap, "are you feeling any better?"

"Yes sir," I whispered looking down at my thumbs. I sighed. I have to say this sooner or later. Before I spoke I took a deep breath, "I'm not really good at these kind of things but thank you for helping me the other night. I really appreciate it."

He smiled, "no need to thank me, I just did what any other good person would do." I nodded my head and stared back up at the ceiling. He then took out a bag from behind him and threw it on my lap, "I didn't lie about what I said that night."

I stared down at the bag wondering what was in it. I shook it making sure it wasn't a bomb or some kind of weapon, "just open it boy!" He demanded.

"Alright Sheesh!" I opened the bag and was shocked to see what was inside, "my scarf! How did you get this? I thought it was back at the club?"

"Well I talked with the owner and I made a little deal with him."

I raised my brow, "What kind of deal?"

"Let's just say to pay for that debt you owe, you'll be working with Mark at the underground for a couple of months."

"What the hell!? What do you mean I'll be working with that guy?!"

"Just like I said."

I was shaking my head, "look old man I'm really thankful for you helping me that night but I don't need you to fix my life. In fact I think you just made it worse." I covered my face with my hands, trying to shake of this anger.

He sighed, "how old are you now, eighteen?"

"Yeah why?"

"So you should be in college right now huh?"

"Why do you care?" I groaned. I hate it when people ask questions about my personal life, it really gets under my skin.

"What college are you going to?"

"I'm not in college."

"Oh, so you have a job and working to go to college?"

"Look I don't know what you're trying to get at-"

"Just answer the question son."

"I don't have a job either and I'm not going to college. What's the point in school in the first place? When will I ever use any of those things in my life?"

He looked at me with confused look, "so you don't have a job and you're not getting an education? So let me guess, you still live with your parents and letting them take care of you while you run around all day chasing after a broken dream."

I snapped, "Shut up! You don't know anything about me or what I've been through! I'm not chasing after a broken dream! I don't care how long it takes I'll will become the world's greatest boxer and nobody is going to stand in my way!"

"You can't become the greatest fighter if you're going to be locked up or dead! This path you're taking son has no gold at the end. There is no reward! I've seen too many kids like you waste their talent and lives doing things like this! They get caught up in that rush until it all fades away and you end up the next headline on the news. Your ignorance is getting you in the way of chasing your dream."

I couldn't say anything. All I could do was listen.

But He's right. I've lost friends doing the things I do. I've lost family. I seen my family loose everything they had to this. I don't want to become like them.

"I understand what you're trying to say," I said, "but I just want to be like my dad. I want to be like him. Like Gildarts... I want to be great like them."

"Then you do it the right way." He stood up from his chair and walked over to my bed. He extended his hand to me. I glanced down confused, "I want you to promise me son, that you'll do this the right way."

I shook his hand, "I promise old man."

He smiled, "when you heal up we can begin your training. Also you start Monday with the new job." He winked, before heading out.

"Wait! I didn't catch your name!" I yelled.

He turned around and gave me the biggest smile I think I've ever seen, "The names Makarov."